Like retail, the direct-to-consumer sales channels in the U.S. nutrition industry are feeling the pinch of the global economic downturn and face a rapidly changing business and regulatory landscape. Direct-to-consumer sales channels generated approximately $12.2 billion in sales in 2008, according to new research from Nutrition Business Journal. This was down slightly from 6.6% growth in the direct channels in 2007. But, despite the decline, the U.S. nutrition industry is faring much better than many other consumer-focused businesses these days.

NBJ evaluates the direct-to-consumer channels in its May 2009 issue, which includes an in-depth analysis of the nutrition industry sales performance of the Internet, multi-level marketers (MLMs), practitioners, direct-response television (DRTV), direct-response radio (DR radio), and mail-order catalog sales channels.

NBJ’s research into these direct sales channels is another
way NBJ’s market research is different than that of other generalist research firms that look solely at the nutrition industry’s retail markets.

NBJ’s 2009 Direct Selling in the Nutrition Issue also includes:

o Top direct-to-consumer nutrition industry sales companies and their sales in 2008
o 2008 U.S. nutrition industry sales growth by channel
o Top practitioner supplement companies and their sales in 2008
o How the economy is specifically affecting Internet, MLMs, practitioner, DRTV, DR radio mail order catalog sales within the nutrition industry
o Regulatory challenges facing direct-to-consumer nutrition industry sales companies
o Impact of the economy on new product launches
o The growth engine behind nutrition industry e-commerce sales
o What raw material & ingredient suppliers need to know to sell to MLMs
o The ingredient and product trends currently being pursued by network-marketing companies
o And much, much more….

As part of the research for its 2009 Direct Selling in the Nutrition Industry issue, NBJ interviewed and surveyed more than 100 nutrition industry companies, including:
• Herbalife
• Sierra Mountain Minerals
• Canaccord Adams
• Maypro Industries
• OceanGrown International
• Nu Skin
• ReLiv International
• XanGo
• Interhealth Nutraceuticals Inc.
• Arches Natural Products Inc.
• ISI Brands
• NBTY
• Renew Life Formulas
• And many more

About NBJ
Nutrition Business Journal is an executive journal for decision-makers in the natural, nutrition and complementary and alternative health industries. NBJ's exclusive research and editorial focus on the strategic issues of the nutrition industry has made it a leading business intelligence resource for subscribers since 1996. To purchase detailed market research reports, subscribe to NBJ or sign up for the NBJ's free weekly e-newsletter, please visit www.nutritionbusinessjournal.com. NBJ also hosts the NBJ Summit, an invitation-only retreat for C-level executives in the nutrition industry each July. For more information, visit www.nbjsummit.com.
About New Hope Natural Media

New Hope Natural Media (www.newhope.com), a division of the Penton Media, Inc., is the leading media resource and information provider for the natural, organic and healthy products industry with print, in-person/event, and e-business products and services. Penton Media, Inc. is the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S., serving more than six million business professionals every month. The company’s market-leading brands are focused on 30 industries and include 113 trade magazines, 145 Web sites, 150 industry trade shows and conferences, and more than 500 information data products. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its coinvestors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.